FLORENCE  Citibank's $44 million expansion of its Houston Road Citicorp Credit Services division has been named the top U.S. business project for June and July by Plants Sites & Parks magazine.

The 180,000-square-foot expansion began in late June. When completed next year and 2,000 jobs are added, Citibank, with 3,000 employees, will be one of Northern Kentucky's largest employers, trailing only the Internal Revenue Service center in Covington (5,000 employees) and Delta (4,500).

According to the magazine, the new jobs are the primary criterion for recognition, but the total investment and square footage of the project were also considered.

Northern Kentucky Tri-ED, the Fort Mitchell-based job and business recruitment agency, helped negotiate the agreement for the expansion, which includes a $26.7 million state tax break.

Started to encourage people to visit the park and enjoy fellowship, this year's event is being combined with recognition of volunteers who make the countyparks program possible, Kenton County Judge-executive Dick Murgatroyd said.

There also will be catered food and a dessert reception for park volunteers.

The event winds up with a concert and dance featuring the Pete Wagner Band, sponsored by Fifth Third Bank. Corporate sponsorships by Eaton Asphalt, Estes Engineering, Thelen & Associates and Viox & Viox will make possible a presentation of the Cincinnati Zoo's cat ambassadors program featuring a cheetah.

Weather permitting, there will be rides with Captain Zap in the Clean Air for Kentucky hot air balloon.

The free competition is open to boys and girls 8 to 15. It will be at Freedom Park.

Each child must provide a birth certificate or baptismal record for proof of age. All participants must submit a completed parental waiver form. No football shoes, cleats or turf shoes will be allowed.

Only soft-sole gym shoes will be permitted.

Information: (859) 331-5910.

Law enforcers face drug charges

BEATTYVILLE  A police dispatcher and a former prison guard have been indicted on drug charges accusing them of trafficking in OxyContin, a Kentucky State Police detective said Thursday.

Yvonne Angel, 37, a dispatcher for the Beattyville Police Department, was arrested on Wednesday after a grand jury returned an indictment charging her with four counts of conspiracy to traffic in OxyContin and Tylox, said Kentucky State Police Sgt. Warren Meadows.

Sgt. Meadows said Ms. Angel also was indicted on one count of complicity to receive stolen property.

Billy Joe Deaton, 29, of Beattyville, a former prison guard at the Lee Adjustment Correctional Center, was arrested on a charge of receiving stolen property, for allegedly exchanging a radio stolen from the minimum-security prison for drugs. Mr. Deaton worked at the prison during the investigation, but has since left the job.

Driver in fatal crash violates probation

LOUISVILLE  A retired teacher on probation for killing the brother of the state chairwoman of MADD in a hit-and-run wreck in 1992 is back in jail, charged with violating her probation again.

Roberta Brammer is accused of reporting to her probation officer, Randall G. Moser, on Tuesday with alcohol on her breath.

In 1998, Ms. Brammer was charged with drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

Ms. Brammer, a former Waggener High School teacher, was convicted of reckless homicide and leaving the scene of an accident in 1992. Motorcyclist James Garvin McKinney was killed. He was the brother of Sara McKinney, state chairwowan of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Decision nears on Murray State head

MURRAY  A new president at Murray State University could be named as early as today by the university's board of regents.

Last week, the university revealed the names of the three finalists to replace Kern Alexander, whowill retire in June.